(Courtesy of Teach NJS) Teach NJS, the leading advocacy organization for New Jersey’s nonpublic school children, applauds the New Jersey Senate Budget Committee for passing Senate bill S.3080 at its hearing in Trenton this week. This legislation would increase security aid to nonpublic school children in the current school year by $11.3 million. Teach NJS and its statewide coalition partners are particularly grateful to Senate Budget Chairman Paul Sarlo (D-36), Senator Joseph A. Lagana (D-38) and Senator Vin Gopal (D-11), who are the primary sponsors of the Senate bill.

“Every child deserves to feel safe, regardless of the type of school the child attends,” said Dan Mitzner, director of state political affairs for the Teach Advocacy Network. “The legislature and governor have an opportunity to show that the security of all school children in the state is a priority. We urge full passage of the legislation by both houses and for the governor to sign it into law as soon as possible so nonpublic school children are able to learn in a more secure environment.”

The companion Assembly bill (A.4597), whose primary sponsors are Assemblyman Gary Schaer (D-36), Assemblywoman Lisa Swain (D-38) and Assemblyman Christopher Tully (D-38), was scheduled to have been brought before the New Jersey Assembly Budget Committee on Thursday, December 6.

Currently, public schools are allocated an average of approximately $205 per pupil for security funding while nonpublic schools are allocated $75 per child. The security funding in the proposed legislation would increase the allocation per pupil to $150.